The average Italian throws away 81kilograms of edible food each day, or over half a kilo (566.3grams) each week, according to a report released on Friday by Waste Watcher International.
It said the figure was up from 75 kilograms of food wasted per capita per day in last year's report.
Waste Watcher International said that annual cost of food waste in Italy is 126 euros per head or 290 euros for each family.
It said food waste is 8% higher than average in big cities.
It said families without children are 3% more likely to throw away good food.
Surprisingly, consumers with a low level of purchasing powerwaste 17% more food than average, the report said.
The report was released ahead of national food-waste-preventionday on February 5.
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